The Realest Software Engineering Video You’ll Watch This Year

Summary

In this vlog-style video, the creator shares a glimpse into their daily life as a software engineer during week 47 of their journey. Despite limited sleep, they dive into coding, showcasing their use of Postgres and DRLE to build a search function for a database. The creator also discusses the challenges of filming, the importance of skill stacking, and maintaining a consistent routine, including cooking breakfast, working out, and continuing their development journey. With humor and candid moments, the video highlights the balance between work, learning, and personal life.

Takeaways

• 😀 Struggling with sleep: The speaker mentions having only 3-4 hours of sleep but still feeling energized. This highlights the personal challenge of maintaining energy despite sleep deprivation.
• 😀 End of a year-long journey: Week 47 means only five weeks left until the speaker completes a year of consistent work, signifying both dedication and anticipation for completing this milestone.
• 😀 Switching to better tech: The speaker upgraded his video setup by moving from an iPhone camera with a problematic app to using his computer, resulting in a significant improvement in video quality.
• 😀 Coding and learning on the job: The speaker is working with PostgreSQL and Drizzle ORM, using JavaScript alongside SQL to manage databases, demonstrating skill growth in backend development.
• 😀 Database searching made simple: The speaker showcases how he can search a database for specific criteria (e.g., names with certain letters), reflecting his progress in database querying and backend development.
• 😀 Skill stacking mentality: The speaker emphasizes the importance of 'skill stacking,' which means learning and improving a variety of skills over time to become more proficient and versatile in coding.
• 😀 Consistency in the routine: The speaker enjoys his daily routine, which includes commuting, working, and working out, indicating that a well-established routine helps maintain focus and productivity.
• 😀 Efficiency in cooking: The speaker prepares his breakfast (eggs and coffee) quickly, highlighting his preference for time efficiency in the morning to avoid wasting time before heading out.
• 😀 Friday motivation: The speaker celebrates the simple joys of the end of the workweek with a quick breakfast and coffee, expressing gratitude and a positive outlook towards the weekend.
• 😀 Fitness and well-being: The speaker also prioritizes physical health, fitting in a gym session with shadow boxing and weight training, showing that balancing coding and fitness is key to a healthy lifestyle.

Q & A

What challenges does the speaker face regarding sleep, and how does this impact their work?

The speaker struggles with poor sleep, often getting only 3 to 5 hours of rest. This lack of sleep leads to fatigue, but it does not stop them from pushing through their daily routine, which includes coding and physical workouts. Despite the exhaustion, they maintain a sense of energy and commitment to their tasks.

What is the speaker's main focus at work, and how do they approach coding?

The speaker is focused on coding, particularly working with databases using Postgres and DRLE, a tool that allows them to use JavaScript alongside SQL. They demonstrate how they create and query a database, highlighting the learning process involved in building a functional search feature.

How does the speaker describe their experience using the black camera app and microphone?

The speaker expresses frustration with the black camera app, which forces them to use an external microphone. They find the app problematic, as it distorts their appearance, making them appear orange, and ultimately switch to filming with their computer to avoid the issues.

What concept does the speaker emphasize in their learning process, and how do they apply it?

The speaker emphasizes 'skill stacking'—the idea of continuously building and accumulating expertise in different areas. They apply this concept by learning various coding techniques, such as using JavaScript with SQL to enhance their database management skills.

What role does routine play in the speaker's life, and how does it affect their productivity?

Routine plays a significant role in the speaker's life, providing structure and discipline. Their daily activities, including coding, workouts, and meals, are all part of a well-established routine. This consistency contributes to their productivity, allowing them to efficiently manage time and focus on their goals.

What specific technical skill does the speaker develop during their internship, and how do they demonstrate it?

During their internship, the speaker develops their skills in database management, particularly in seeding data and performing queries. They demonstrate this by showcasing a program they created that allows them to search and filter data from a database using a combination of JavaScript and SQL.

Why does the speaker use a combination of JavaScript and SQL in their coding projects?

The speaker uses a combination of JavaScript and SQL to simplify database operations. JavaScript is employed for logic and function creation, while SQL is used for database querying. This mixed approach, facilitated by DRLE, allows for a more dynamic and flexible coding environment.

How does the speaker incorporate physical fitness into their routine, and why is it important to them?

Physical fitness is an essential part of the speaker's routine. They run to the gym, practice shadow boxing, and engage in weight training. The speaker views physical exercise as a way to maintain balance in their life, suggesting that the discipline learned in the gym is just as important as the skills gained in coding.

What is the speaker's attitude toward their daily routine, and how do they cope with monotony?

The speaker seems to appreciate the predictability of their daily routine, despite its repetitive nature. They acknowledge the routine's monotony but find satisfaction in the structure it provides, especially as it allows them to focus on their work and personal growth without unnecessary distractions.

How does the speaker view their growth as a software engineer, and what is their mindset toward continuous learning?

The speaker takes a growth-oriented approach to their career as a software engineer. They view each task as an opportunity to learn and improve, and they embrace the concept of continuous learning. This mindset drives them to take on challenges and incrementally build their expertise, ultimately aspiring to become a 'code bender.'